CVE-2016-5964 in Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance version 2.0.2 uses an inadequate account lockout setting that could allow a remote attacker to brute force account credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5964 affects IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance version 2.0.2, presenting a significant security weakness in account lockout mechanisms that could be exploited by remote attackers. This flaw resides within the privileged identity management system that controls access to sensitive organizational resources, making it particularly concerning for enterprises relying on such solutions for security operations. The vulnerability specifically relates to inadequate account lockout settings that fail to properly implement protective measures against brute force authentication attacks, creating an exploitable condition that could lead to unauthorized system access.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient configuration of account lockout policies within the virtual appliance implementation. When authentication attempts exceed a reasonable threshold, the system fails to effectively lockout accounts or implement proper rate limiting mechanisms that would prevent automated credential guessing attacks. This inadequate protection allows attackers to systematically attempt multiple username and password combinations without triggering effective account lockout procedures. The vulnerability stems from weak default configurations that do not adequately enforce account lockout policies, making it easier for malicious actors to exploit the system through repeated authentication attempts. This weakness directly relates to CWE-307, which addresses inadequate account lockout mechanisms, and represents a critical failure in authentication security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially compromising entire privileged access environments. Attackers leveraging this weakness could gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts that control critical system functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data breaches. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or network, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in distributed or cloud-based environments. Organizations using this virtual appliance may experience unauthorized privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system disruption, with the potential for cascading effects throughout the enterprise security infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation tactics, where adversaries exploit weak authentication controls to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5964 should focus on implementing robust account lockout policies and authentication controls within the IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance. Organizations must configure proper account lockout thresholds, implement adaptive authentication measures, and establish monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. The solution involves updating the virtual appliance to a patched version that addresses the inadequate account lockout settings, as well as configuring appropriate lockout policies that prevent brute force attacks. Security administrators should also implement additional controls such as multi-factor authentication, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring of authentication events to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that similar account lockout weaknesses do not exist in other components of the privileged identity management infrastructure, maintaining compliance with security standards and reducing the attack surface for credential-based attacks.